None other than disgraced ex-FIFA president Sepp Blatter, who is serving a six-year ban from soccer-related activities after he was one of several top officials ousted after corruption revelations in 2015.

It's no real surprise Putin has reached out to accommodate Blatter – he backed Russia's controversial bid to stage this event back in 2010. At the same time the desert nation of Qatar was handed the 2022 edition.

There was little shock around the world in 2015 when it was revealed FIFA was being investigated.

“Sure, I will see him. I am his guest," Blatter said when asked if he would be catching up with Putin. "We will meet somewhere, but I don’t know where yet because they refuse to disclose the exact location. It will be a sporting and diplomatic mission for me.”

CYBER WARNING TO AMERICANS

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American tourists visiting Russia have been advised by the director of the country's National Counterintelligence and Security Centre not to take electronic devices into the country for the risk of being hacked.

FBI agent William Evanina believes both cyber criminals and the Russian government could target mobile phones, laptops and other electronics with personal identification data.

"Corporate and government officials are most at risk, but don't assume you're too insignificant to be targeted," Evanina said in a statement. "If you can do without the device, don't take it. If you must take one, take a different device from your usual one and remove the battery when not in use."

EDEN WHO?

Costa Rica fans are outraged at the ignorance being shown by their manager Oscar Ramirez on the eve of the tournament as the country looks to emulate its 2014 efforts, when they reached the quarter finals.

Following a 4-1 warm-up defeat by European powerhouse Belgium, Ramirez remarked "El 10 nos hizo mucho daño, no sé su nombre". Roughly translated that means, "Their No.10 did us a lot of damage, I don't know his name".

Top 10: Eden Hazard, a perpetual Real Madrid target and Chelsea superstar, but he's just a number to the Costa Rica boss.Credit:AP

The Belgian No.10 was none other than Chelsea superstar and two-time English Premier League winner Eden Hazard.

Ramirez's team is in Group E up against Brazil, Switzerland and Serbia. Surely the manager has at least heard of Neymar.

TUNNEL BLUE IN 2005

Former Socceroos hard man Tony Popovic has opened up about his pre-match altercation with Uruguay's Richard Morales before the game that delivered Australia its first World Cup finals spot in 32 years.

Speaking as a special guest at Wednesday's annual Business of Football Lunch, hosted by Dunbar Rovers, Popovic said tensions which had been simmering for four years between the two countries boiled over in the ANZ Stadium tunnel.

As both sides were walking out of the changing rooms, Morales veered off course and stepped in front of Popovic, blocking his path and telling him he would not be going past.

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Verbal barbs quickly turned into a physical altercation before both players realised the rest of their teammates hadn't noticed and were about to walk out onto the field.

Popovic and Morales had to release each other, and sprint down the tunnel to link back up with their mates before the Socceroos went on to make the 2006 finals in Germany via a penalty shoot out.

Legendary goal keeper Mark Schwarzer says he wasn't even aware of the altercation until years later.

NO FOOTY BOOTS FOR IRAN

Iranian players have been temporarily left without football boots at the World Cup after Nike withdrew its supply to the Middle Eastern nation following fresh US sanctions against the country.

Manager Carlos Queiroz, who was linked with the Socceroos vacancy when Ange Postecoglou quit, has called upon FIFA to help his players ahead of Iran's tournament opener against Mexico early on Saturday morning.